Caol Ila 1976/2022 G&M PVC Private Collection #8102

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 45.8% | Colouring: No

Special Features:

This Caol Ila matured for 46 years in a Refill American Hogshead before Gordon & MacPhail bottled it for the Private Collection. It was distilled on 30 September 1976 and bottled from cask 8102 on 14 November 2022. The release comprises 132 bottles worldwide at a natural cask strength of 45.8%.

The whisky combines delicate peat smoke with ripe fruit and maritime minerality. Its oily texture and spicy oak complement this smoky, fruity character. It contains no added colouring and comes in a wooden presentation box with a geometric grain pattern.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, delicate peat smoke combines with ripe fruit and citrus peel. Maritime notes and gentle vanilla round out the aromas.
• Palate: The whisky feels oily on the palate. Sweet fruit, malt and caramel combine with spicy oak; the smoke remains present and is harmoniously integrated.
• Finish: Smoke and fruit linger through the long finish. Subtle saltiness and mature wood notes accompany the aftertaste.

Distillery/Bottler:

Caol Ila stands in a bay north of Port Askaig on Islay, looking across the sound towards Jura. Hector Henderson founded the distillery in 1846 in a former lead ore quarry; the abundant water supply was crucial to the choice of location. Its tall copper stills produce a comparatively light spirit. Caol Ila also supplies an important component of Johnnie Walker blends.

Gordon & MacPhail is the independent bottler behind this single-cask release and oversaw the maturation of the whisky produced by Caol Ila in a cask owned by Gordon & MacPhail. The company began as a shop opened in Elgin in 1895. For the Private Collection, the directors, including members of the third and fourth generations of the Urquhart family, select casks with distinctive character. Their selection combines an assessment of the spirit with knowledge of cask maturation passed down through generations; the single-cask releases carry a vintage and cask number and are bottled at natural cask strength.

Facts: